The Sports Xchange

Second-year starting pitcher Chris Archer and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a six-year contract worth $25 million that includes team options to tie Archer through the team through 2021.

Archer, who starts his first game of the season and 28th of his career Thursday, was acquired in 2011 in a trade with the Chicago Cubs that shipped Matt Garza out of Tampa.

He finished third Rookie of the Year voting last season behind teammate Wil Myers. Archer was 9-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 23 starts last season, and captured AL Pitcher of the Month in July with 4-0 record and 0.73 ERA in five starts.

Archer debuted with the Rays in 2012, going 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA in six appearances (four starts).

The team options for 2020 ($9 million) and 2021 ($11 million) would pay Archer a total of $20 million.